News Masters

GUELPH, Ont. — Ross Whyte and his Scottish squad captured their first career Grand Slam of Curling title Sunday at the WFG Masters.

Whyte made a tap for two points in the eighth end to edge Brad Jacobs’s Canadian club 5-4 in the men’s final.

The team of Whyte, third Robin Brydone, second Duncan McFadzean and lead Euan Kyle claimed $38,000 from the $400,000 combined prize purse.

It was Whyte’s second Grand Slam final after finishing runner-up to Italy’s Team Joël Retornaz in last season’s WFG Masters.

“It’s unreal,” said Whyte, who became the fourth youngest skip to win a Grand Slam men’s title at age 26. “This is what you’re hoping for your whole career, getting to these points and winning those massive games. Thankfully, we’ve done it today and got over the line on our second try.”

After falling 5-3 to Germany’s Team Marc Muskatewitz in round-robin play on Tuesday to start the tournament, Whyte didn’t lose again, earning five consecutive wins en route to the trophy.

“We had a real refocus after the first game and we really got back together,” Whyte said. “It clearly worked and we started putting stones in better spots and thankfully, we managed to win the game.”

A new rule was tested during the event where teams lost the hammer if they blanked consecutive ends. That came into play early after Jacobs blanked the first and had to draw into an empty house for a single point in the second.

Jacobs then turned the tables as Whyte blanked the third end and was forced to tap for one in the fourth to tie it up heading into the break.

Whyte jammed a double attempt in the fifth that allowed Jacobs to hit the paint with a draw for a deuce and a 3-1 lead.

Although Whyte scored two in the sixth to knot it up again, it was a missed opportunity as he had the two points in his pocket and was looking for a third, however, his shooter hit and rolled away.

Jacobs hit for a single in the seventh to make it 4-3 but handed Whyte the hammer for the eighth end.

After Jacobs drew to the back of the four-foot circle for shot rock, Whyte was able to tap just enough of it to count two for the win.

“We took a bit longer to flip the hammer than we were hoping, but we managed it,” Whyte said. “The last shot, we’ve seen a couple down that line, so we were just hoping I’d throw it well and we’d sweep it good and we managed to make it, so it feels great.”

The final was the lone loss of the week for Jacobs and his team featuring third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert.

It was also five years to the day that Jacobs won his seventh and most recent Grand Slam title. The skip from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., joined the Calgary-based trio ahead of this season after they parted ways with Brendan Bottcher.

Jacobs, who banked $34,000 from the prize purse, lost to Scotland’s Team Bruce Mouat in last month’s KIOTI National men’s final.

Later Sunday, Canada’s Team Rachel Homan faces Sweden’s Team Anna Hasselborg in the women’s final. Watch on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ live at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT.